Stuff To Pack For Your Christmas Holiday

Whatever style of Christmas getaway you have planned, success is in the detail.

You’re about to embark on your dream Christmas holiday. You’ve booked the flights, the accommodation and the sightseeing for your ideal end-of-year wind-down. Now, it’s time to make that all-important, idiot-proof list to keep the chore of packing on track.

While there’s always the back-up option of buying what you need overseas, forgetting to pack certain items can add some serious cost and inconvenience to your holiday – or even spoil it completely. So what sort of stuff should you pack for your Christmas getaway?

Overall, your holiday style and destination will dictate the various items you must pack. But whatever sort of holiday you’re taking, it all starts with a comprehensive list made in plenty of time beforehand. Stick to the list and you’re on the way to the most important thing of all – enjoying yourself!

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First aid kit

You won’t need to perform any life-saving transplants, but bringing some basic first aid equipment can be hugely useful no matter where you’re going. A small bag containing some painkillers, medicine, band-aids, and disinfectant makes things much easier when you have any minor accidents or illnesses.

It may seem like a no-brainer, but you should also pack any medications you take regularly. Once overseas, various medicines that you can easily obtain in Australia may be limited to prescription only. Also ensure that you’re up to date with vaccinations for overseas – after all, prevention is much better than a cure.

Everyday necessities

Sunscreen, hats, insect repellent – you’ll need copious quantities of these protective items whether you’re camping with the kids or sunning at a singles resort. If you are taking the family on a camping holiday in particular, don’t forget hand sanitiser (because many toilets at campgrounds do not have hand basins) and baby wipes (useful for cleaning dirt from faces and hands of adults as well as kids).

Adapt or pay

For destinations outside Australia, you’ll almost certainly need power plug adaptors for your phone, laptop and any other devices. Make sure you buy them ahead of your trip instead of being forced to pay those crazy airport prices!

Charge up

If you intend using electronic devices, make sure they are fully charged before you leave home. This is particularly important if you’re camping with the kids and the weather deteriorates. You can always use a portable battery as a charger in this instance.

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Pack light and save

Overstuffing your suitcase is a big no-no if you’re flying out of Australia. If your airline says “23kg per bag”, they mean “23kg per bag”. Weigh your bags before you get to the airport and make sure you are within the restrictions – check our guide to the major airlines here. Otherwise you’ll be forced to cough up extra cash at the airport, post it home (which can be highly expensive), or even worse, have to say goodbye to that expensive guitar you bought in Spain.

Leave bag space for holiday purchases

While not technically a “must pack”, you will save money on the homeward journey if you devote room in your suitcase to things you will buy on holidays. It’s inevitable you will bring home more duty-free goods or holiday mementos than when you left. Making sure you have room now will save you excess baggage charges on the return trip.

One of everything

Most people carry far more camping equipment than they really need, says the NRMA. So if you’re heading off on a camping adventure, it’s recommended that you analyse your gear and just take one of everything. Essentials should include plenty of lighters and fire starters – a good fire can make any campsite comfortable. A couple of decent-sized tarps or plastic sheets and some spare lengths of rope will provide shade or rain protection when travelling on the road.

Multi-task your gear

Carry your sleeping bags and the few clothes you’re taking – remembering that laundromats are more popular than banks in the country these days – in soft bags. They can then double as pillows and soft packing during the day and be squeezed into awkward spaces in the car or 4WD.

There are plenty of things to take into account when packing for your Christmas getaway, whether it’s a quiet camping trip or a luxury overseas getaway. Checking off your list of all the essentials will mean a more relaxing and enjoyable holiday for the entire family – and will save you money as well!

If you’re on the hunt for travel insurance to cover you on your dream getaway, compare policies using Canstar’s star ratings:

This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you. Consider the product disclosure statement before making a purchase decision. Canstar provides an information service. It is not a credit provider, and in giving you information about credit products Canstar is not making any suggestion or recommendation to you about a particular credit product. Statistics referenced on this page have been verified by Canstar Research. Research provided by Canstar Research AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 437917.